Calamari is the Greek word for squid. So all squid is calamari. Having said that in Victoria some people differentiate between arrow squid and southern squid by calling arrows - squid, and calling southern - calamari. I dont now if this is the case in other areas.

Interests:squid fishing General fishing, cars boats camping. have fished for squid for over 35 years learning most of the secrets from my dad who was a remarkable squid fisho.I also enjoy fishing for garfish and King George Whiting

Posted 02 June 2003 - 09:58 PM

Id rather eat boot leather than eat arrow squid its tough and tasteless
and isnt even a good bait
Watch out when you catch an arrow because the buggers bite and can bend backwards to try and take a nip at you

i find it a bit hit and miss when it comes to tenderness and that goes for both calamari and arrows, i always cook them the same way for the same amount of time but sometimes they'll be soft and sometimes tough

when my parents go to the fishmarket to buy calamari to eat they always look for small ones and they end up being soft. maybe tenderness is size related?

Ummmm
I caught a small arrow squid, about 20cm, cooked it in a batter in shallow oil, and it was sweet as hell. had to add a bit of salt to balance the flavor.

I caught a large southern calamari squid last night, havent cooked it yet but i didnt think it can be as sweet. but people tell me that southern calamari are much better eating than arrow squids? I think it could well be related to size.

Southern calamari go for a much higher price than arrow squid at the local fish market. but the strange thing is they only stock small squid?? maybe people already know that taste is related to size.
I have been catching more large squid than small.. 60cm+

Although many would think that calamari and squid are the same, truth is, they are not. Calamari is the name representing the species of squids which have side fins running on the full length of the body. Squids have fins, but these run only for short distance on the sides of the body. Calamaris are similar to the squids in many respects, but are often more tender when compared to the other squids.

Squids are larger in size than Calamaris. When you see both, you can make out the difference easily. Squids have pointed small flaps on the narrow end of the bodies. These resemble arrows. A calamari has long triangular wing-like flaps on either sides of the body.